Specifications include, but are not limited to: 84 Bishop Drive is an approximately 34,000 square foot lot recently used for public parking, Starlight Square (a performance space designed and built by and for the community during the pandemic), Popportunity (an outdoor market space), and the seasonal farmer’s market. In addition to these activating uses, the site has also historically provided abutting commercial properties access to service and loading areas. As one of the larger City owned lots in the study area, 84 Bishop Allen Drive offers a unique opportunity to create a permanent home for the temporary activation uses of Starlight Square and Popportunity. The City hopes that this location can deliver a mixed-use development that includes a significant amount of affordable housing, affordable commercial space, public parking, and a combination of indoor cultural space and open space that can support performances, markets, and community gathering. 96 Bishop Allen Drive is an approximately 6,000 square foot lot used as a public parking lot. The site sits on the northwest corner of the same block as 84 Bishop Allen Drive and experiences significant shadowing. The Lots Study recommends this site be redeveloped for housing with the ground floor explored for active community use. Given the clear community vision for both sites and their proximity to each other, the Sites offer an opportunity to be redeveloped together to maximize community benefits. The City and CRA are therefore initiating this open process to seek information from interested parties on their approach to creating and sustaining a mixed-use development on the Sites. The purpose of any resulting project will be to realize the community’s goal of bringing a mix of housing, with an emphasis on affordability, affordable ground floor commercial space, cultural and open space, and public parking to the unique, vibrant, and cherished place that is Central Square. This open process seeks information from interested parties on their approach to creating and sustaining a mixed-use development on these sites.
